PORTEr'^S JOURINAL. 



those seas, our whale-ships, which had taken refuge at 

 Conception and Valparaiso, boldly ventured to sea in pur- 

 suit of whales. On the arrival of the Essex Junior at Val- 

 paraiso, four of them had returned there with full cargoes, 

 and were waiting for a convoy to protect them some dis- 

 tance from the coast, that they might be enabled to take 

 the advantage of the winter season for getting into a port 

 of the United States. This protection lieutenant Downes 

 was enabled to afford them on his departure from thence ; 

 and the four ships lying there, as well as my prize, the Po- 

 licy, sailed in company with him until he had seen them a 

 sufficient distance beyond the usual cmising ground of Bri- 

 tiah armed ships. 



